Drug Court Officer’s Victim Describes Abuse

ST. LOUIS (CN) - A drug court officer abused his power to sexually abuse a woman repeatedly, she says in a graphic federal complaint.

"Jane Poe" sued Scott Edwards and Lincoln County, Mo. for assault and battery and constitutional violations.

Edwards was sentenced to life in prison in July for sexually abusing of five women participating in the drug court.

Edwards was a "tracker" for the drug court until he resigned in December 2010.

Drug court trackers "monitor the whereabouts and curfews of drug court participants," according to the federal indictment against Edwards.

In her complaint, Poe says she began participating in the drug court in 2008 and Edwards began abusing her in October 2010, after he found a tobacco pipe at her house during a search.

Poe claims Edwards told her that having the pipe was a violation and could endanger her participation in the drug court. But instead of writing up the violation, Edwards asked, "What are we going to do about this?" Poe says in the complaint.

"Under the threat of arrest and termination from the drug court, plaintiff was forced, at the direction of defendant Edwards, to disrobe, lie on her bed, and masturbate for the sexual gratification of defendant Edwards," the complaint states. "Defendant Edwards then began to masturbate and placed his mouth on plaintiff's genitalia without her consent. Defendant Edwards attempted to compel plaintiff to perform fellatio on him and ultimately ejaculated on plaintiff's face and head."

Poe said she was subsequently jailed for two weeks. During her confinement, she says, Edwards took her to an area where he allowed her to smoke and told her that he saw a surveillance video from a convenience store that showed her buying items that were not allowed under the drug court program.

Edwards asked again, "What are we going to do about that tape?" Poe claims.

"After plaintiff was released from jail, she returned to her home and to the drug court program," the complaint states. "Defendant Edwards was persistent in his efforts to compel plaintiff to engage in another sexual encounter. He repeatedly called plaintiff and came to her residence. She was able to deflect his advances until sometime in November, around Thanksgiving, when he once again appeared, uninvited and unannounced, at her residence and compelled her to again engage in a nonconsensual sex act. Again, defendant Edwards touched her genitalia against her consent."

Poe seeks punitive damages. She is represented by Stephen Ryals.

Lincoln County is 55 miles northwest of St. Louis.

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